66 CRIB-BITING. 



could be properly called a vice. His Lordship 

 was about to sum up the evidence, but the jury 

 interposed, saying their minds were made up. 



" Lord Tenterden. You find for the plaintiff, 

 gentlemen ? 



" A Juror, Yes, my Lord. 



" A verdict was then entered for £41 0*. 6rf., 

 the difference between the price which the plain- 

 tiff had paid for the horse and the net proceeds 

 of the sale." 



From this it appears, that the horse was 

 warranted sound and free from vice : but it is 

 not said, whether the jury regarded it as an un- 

 soundness or a vice. My own opinion is, that 

 crib-biting in every case, constitutes unsoundness; 

 for though it is difficult to say whether the habit 

 is produced by disease, or by imitation, yet it is 

 certain that it cannot exist long, without in some 

 degree impairing the function of the stomach : 

 and dissection shows, that alteration of structure 

 is a consequence of its long continuance, and 

 that, to a greater or less degree, diminishing the 

 efficiency of the animal. It is no argument 

 against this to say, that crib-biters often work 

 well : the question is, would they not work 

 better without such a habit ? It is likewise 



